Fuel igniter



March 10, 1964 c. c. GENTRY FUEL IGNITER Filed Feb. 12, 1959 \\l u M u! M Ilm f ,wrak/verf 3,124,432 FUEL IGNITER Chalmus C. Gentry, Vanderbilt-gh County, Ind., assigner to Gentry, Inc., Lafayette, Ind., a corporation of Indiana' Filed Feb. 12, 1959, Ser. No; 792,905

Claims. (Cl. 441-40) The present invention relates to a fuel igniter, and more particularly to a new and improved solid type fuel igniter whch may be safely and effectively used as well as carrre Heretofore, liquid type igniters or lighters have been used for igniting charcoal or like fuel commonly used for outdoor cooking. The serious objection to these prior forms of liquid lighter is the danger inherent with the use thereof, oftentimes brought about by the faliure to follow instructions, as, for example, pouring the liquid lighter directly intol the flame or burning area. Moreover, the aforementioned danger associated with the liquid type of fuel lighter considerably diminished the desirability thereof on the part of the potential purchaser.

By virtue of the instant invention, 'the Aapplicant has provided a novel fuel lighter which is solid in form and which is safe to carry and use, and, at the same time, nontoxic in` overall effect. The applicants novel invention comprisesa cup made from ya flammable material of the type which does not instantaneously burn, such as common lightweight paper, for example, having a multilayered composition of matter therein including a layer of fine cut wood or wood dust, preferably hickory wood with bark, and a layer of parafiin, which may be decoratively colored, thereahfove. In use, charcoal or like fuel is readily placed over and around the fuel lighter in a common outdoor grill and, after the cup thereof is lighted with a match or other means, the lighter bums slowly amd continuously, Without any danger of exploding, to readily ignite the charcoal fuel. Use of the hickory wood in the applioants novel fuel lighter is preferred, of course, because of its hickory scent during the burning thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention, the applicant vprovides lighters similar in form to that described hereabove, but disposed within a package or carton and spaced apart by a wall of fine cut hickory or other such wood dust. The use of this latter embodiment, as well as several additional modifications thereof, to be discussed herebelo'w, achieves a smoking effect and, hence, is desirable for smoking Ifood products, for example, which are positioned on a grill thereabove.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a solid type fuel lighter which is safe to useas well as to carry, and which, during the use thereof, is nontoxic.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fuel lighter which overcomes the dangerous flammable characteristics of prior liquid typ-e fuel ignitersl through a novel structure which permits a slow and steady burning.

rate sufficient to ignite the desired fuel,

. A further and more general object of the present invention is to provide a fuel igniter useful outdoor cooking to simply ignite the charcoal or other fuel and` in alternate embodiments, to effect a smoked food product.

Other `objects and a better understanding of the invention will become more' apparent from the fol-lowing description, taken in coniunction with the accompanying drawing, in' which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a fuel lighter in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a View in vertical section showing the composition of the fuel lighter of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a View in vertical section showing a modified' form of the fuel igniter of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section showing another embodiment of the instant invention, which incorporates the fuel lighters of FIGS. 1 amd 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section of still another embodiment of the applicants novel invention; and,

F-IG. 6 is a view in vertical section o still a further embodiment of the instant invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now bel made to the .embodiments illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. -It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such `further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the applicants novel fuel Ilighter 10y generally comprises a composition of paraffin 12 andV wood dust 14, in layers, disposed within a flammable container 111. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the flammable container 11 is filled with the parafiin 12 to about one-third of the volume thereof, with the remaining two-thirds of the volume being the wood dust 14 which is disposed thereunder. The wood dust 14 is preferably fine cut hickory Wood with bark, while the paraffin 12, which is visible to the user, is decoratively colored. Although it should be understood that any type of wood dust 1-4 may be used, the fine cut hickory wood with bark is preferable in View of its pleasant scent during burning.

The flammable container 11 in which the layers of parafiin 12 and wood dust 14 are found is preferably made from lightweight paper, for example, or any similar material'which does not burn instantaneously. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the filled container 11 weighs approximately l0 to 12 grams, with the paraffin 12 approximating two-thirds of the weight and the combined flammable container 11 and the wood dust 14 making up the remaining weight.

In a typical use, the fuel lighter 10 is placed in an outdoor grill or other cooking apparatus beneath the desired fuel, such as charcoal, for example. The user simply and effectively lights the rim of the flammable container 11 forming the lighter, with a match or like means, whereupon the container 11 starts to burn, with4 the burning rim of the container 11 acting as a starting wick therefor. The burning path is around the lip of the container 11 and down the sides thereof and, as the burning continues, the wood dust 14 begins to burn,

which wood dust serves to cause the entire unit to burn slowly and steadily. The typical lighter unit described hereabove burns steadily for some six to nine minutes, which is ample to ignite the charcoal or like fuel therearound, and ultimately the unit is totally consumed by the burning.

An alternate form of fuel lighter is disclosed in FIG.

3 which includes components similar to those described hereabove in connection With FIGS. l and 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 3',however, the flammable container" Patented Mar. 10, 1964 3 ing the wood dust 14 therein. The paraffin 12 is poured into the top portion of the container 11 and cooled, and when the rim of the container l1 is ignited, the latter serves asv a starting wick for the lighter, as indicated hereabove.

FIGS. 4, and 6 disclose embodiments of the invention which are particularly adaptable Where it is desired to have a smoked food product. These embodiments of the invention are common in the fact that each includes a wall or barrier of fine cut wood or wood dust 14 between the lighter sections of the structures. The latter relationship is desirable inasmuch as when the charcoal or other fuel is lighted by the lighters, the larger wood dust area, which burns last, smokes for a period of time sufficient to flavor a food product which is on a grill thereabove.

rNoting particularly each of the figures, FIG. 4 discloses a flammable continer 20, elongated in length and preferably rectangular in cross section, having portions 20a and Zlib of the top wall bendable downwardly to approach, in a typical embodiment, the bottom wall thereof. The end portions of the container 2f) are adapted to receive the novel fuel lighters ffl of FIG. 2 therein through openings Zflc and 20d defined by the downward positioning ofthe depending walls 2da and 20h, respectively, each being secured to the container through any desired means, such as by an adhesive (not shown), for example, or the like. Disposed between the downwardly depending walls 20a and Zlib of the flammable container 20 is the area in which the sawdust or fine cut wood 14 is introduced and retained, which wood dust I4 effects the smoking action, during use, described above.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a flammable container 30, which may be rectangular in cross section, has end flaps or other like means (not shown) through which, when opened, wood dust I4 may be poured therein, after which operation the flaps are closed. The top wall of the container 30 has portions 30a and Sflb defined thereon which may be forced downwardly to provide openings 30o and 36d, respectively, therein. The wood dust 14 below these openings 30e and 30d is then packed downwardly to provide space for paraffin 12, which is poured therein through the respective openings.

FIG. 6 discloses a tubular structure 4f) forming another embodiment of the applicants novel fuel igniter. In the structure of FIG. 6, partitions 49a and 40h are provided within the tubular container, and during the typical manufacturing of the lighter, one partition 49a is disposed within the container and the wood dust 14 introduced from the opposite end. When the desired amount of wood dust 14 is introduced, a second partition 401: is disposed within the tubular container 4d. Thereafter, parallln I2 is poured into the respective ends of the tubular container 40 and, of course, allowed to cool prior to use. It has been found that in the preferred form of this embodiment of the invention, ends 4dr: and 40d of the tube 4d should taper outwardly so that during the use of the fuel lighter, the paraflln 12 will not run therefrom onto the surface on which the lighter unit is positioned.

As indicated hereabove, the use of the embodiments of the applicants novel invention disclosed by FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is simple and effective. The flammable container of eachis ignited at a portion thereof near the paraflln 12, which portion acts as a starting wick, until the entire unit is ignited. Inasmuch as the wood dust f4 disposed between the respective lighter sections of each of the structures of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 burns last, this wood dust begins to smoke, which smoke serves to effect the smoked flavoring of a food item which is being cooked on a grill thereabove. It should be understood with reference to the embodiments of the invention of FIGS.

r which is extremely safe during carrying and use.

.4 4, 5 and 6 that either one or more parafned lighter areas may be used, and that such paraffined areas may be disposed, where desired, alongf'the length of the overall structure. Y

From the preceding it should be apparent that the applicant has provided a novel fuel igniter which is simply and eectively used, which is readily carried, rtxkild e applicants novel lighter may effectively serve to initiate the burning of a fuel disposed therearound or, in combination, with a larger volume of fine cut wood or wood dust, serves not only to light the fuel, but :as a smoking medium as well.

The applicants novel fuel lighter structure is susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention. For example, any type material may be used for the ammable container as long as the burning thereof would not create an offensive odor. The Alatter is also true, of course, with respect to the wood dust for, las indicated hereabove, hickory is preferred mainly because of its pleasant odor during burning, and its satisfactory rate of burning. Moreover, the various embodiments of the invention are also susceptible to changes in physical dimensions, and overall congurations, such as t0 create an increase in volume, for variable ldurations of burning. Thus, the above description should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising at least two flammable containers each having an open end, a layer of petroleum wax and a layer of fine cut wood disposed within each of said flammable containers, said petroleum wax layer being above said fine cut wood layer and at said open end of each of said flammable containers, and said flammable containers each having'a rim extending above said petroleum wax layer serving as a starting wick, and another volume of line cut wood disposed between said flammbale containers.

2. An article `of manufacture comprising a flammable receptacle adapted to receive at least two flammable containers at ends thereof, each of said flammable containers having an open end, a layer of petroleum waX and a layer of fine cut wood disposed within each of said flammable containers, said petroleum waX layer being above said line cut wood layer and at said open end of each of said flammable containers, and said flammable containers each having a rim extending above said petroleum wax layer serving as a starting wick, and a volume of fine cut wood disposed within said flammable receptacle between said flammable containers.

- 3. The article of manufacture of claim 2 where llammable partitions define said volume of fine cut wood disposed within said flammable receptacle between said flammable containers.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a flammable receptacle havingends, a layer of petroleum wax disposed at each of said ends of said flammable receptacle and at an opening thereto, and favolume of fine cut wood disposed within said flammable receptacle between said layer of petroleum wax at said ends thereof.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 4 where flammable partitions vseparate at least a portion of said petroleum wax from said ne cut wood.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 167,849 Maynard Sept. 21,. 11875 2,341,377 Hinderery Feb. 8,v 1944 2,622,0117 Bramhall et al. Dec.4 16, 1952 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS EACH HAVING AN OPEN END, A LAYER OF PETROLEUM WAX AND A LAYER OF FINE CUT WOOD DISPOSED WITHIN EACH OF SAID FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS, SAID PETROLEUM WAX LAYER BEING ABOVE SAID FINE CUT WOOD LAYER AND AT SAID OPEN END OF EACH OF SAID FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS, AND SAID FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS EACH HAVING A RIM EXTENDING ABOVE SAID PETROLEUM WAX LAYER SERVING AS A STARTING WICK, AND ANOTHER VOLUME OF FINE CUT WOOD DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLAMMABLE CONTAINERS. 